Going to Punta del Este

What to do in Punta del Este

by Michael T. Luongo

Punta del Este has reigned as one of South America's most glamorous beach destinations for the past several decades. The most important movie, television, and fashion celebrities of Buenos Aires descend on the city, particularly during the short period between Christmas and the middle of January, creating an intense, vibrant scene, known as the temporada (season). Most beachgoers in Uruguay are from neighboring Argentina, but the city Punta del Este has recently been discovered by American and European tourists. December through February is generally the high season, while November, March, and April make up the shoulder season, when costs drop significantly.

Most locals simply call the city, "Punta." It is situated on a once-strategic point where the wide Rio de la Plata empties into the Atlantic. This point is the historical...

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